Radio host and comedian Howard Stern criticized Oprah Winfrey on Monday for allegedly flaunting her wealth while others suffer.
Stern made the comments while talking with co-host Robin Quivers on Monday’s episode of “The Howard Stern Show” about Winfrey’s recent Instagram posts. Winfrey posted several videos and photos showing her Thanksgiving celebration with students from her South African school.
“Oprah’s not embarrassed by her wealth at all,” Stern said. “She loves showing it off on Instagram. It’s fucking mind blowing, when you follow her on Instagram, you see her estates, her gardens, the people who service her and you know—”
“Service her? She’s not a car,” Quivers joked.
“Well, she kind of is. She’s got servants and like — people cooking, and it’s fucking wild. She knows how to be rich, but she doesn’t — she kind of likes to show it off which is something I’m not comfortable with,” Stern said. “I don’t think that people should show off their wealth.”
“Let’s put it this way,” Quivers said. “Oprah’s just showing you her life. She’s not showing off.”
“Well, you gotta be a little self-aware and know that there are people struggling out there, Robin. You got to. You gotta kind of think about people who don’t have [enough] to eat. You know what I’m saying? I mean, come on. You gotta be a little bit aware of this shit.”
“Well, if you don’t show your wealth, are they getting fed?” Quivers countered. (RELATED: ‘It’s Getting Very Confusing’: Howard Stern Blasts Oprah For Throwing Parties During Pandemic)
“No, they are not,” Stern responded. “But, you know, look, I mean, I make a good living and I’m having trouble watching Oprah. I go, ‘Wow, she’s got, she’s got — wow.’ Look what’s going on over there, her estate is unbelievable. So like, when she goes shopping, she goes shopping in her backyard cause everything is growing back there. Like, there’s a farm back there.”
Despite his criticism, Stern eventually heaped praise onto the TV host, lauding her for her work helping girls from Africa receive an education.
“She provides. She gives them an education. She gives them meals … They love her. And it’s impressive. I gotta be honest. I mean, you know, it’s real charity work.”
Winfrey is worth an estimated $2.5 billion.